Arkansas' Gene Bearden: Hero of Indians' last Series appearanceThe unlikely matchup of the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series has baseball historians digging through history books to review stories of each team's previous series appearances. For the Cubs, most know the last time they made the World Series was 1945, and it ended with a heartbreaking, seven-game Series loss to the Tigers. They last won a world championship in 1908. Cleveland's last three World Series appearances...

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BY JIM YEAGER
For The CourierThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Little Johns capture 2A-4 title outrightDANVILLE -- The Little Johns won the 2A-4 Conference title on Friday at Little John Field with a 45-19 victory over the Decatur Bulldogs. Danville (8-0, 7-0 2A-4) scored early and often to reach a 45-6 lead by halftime. The Little Johns scored first on a 28-yard run by Jake Madding to make it 7-0 with 11:06 left in the first after a PAT by Pablo Zapotitlan. Danville scored again on a 71-yard run by Madding to go up 14-0. Next, Evan Lane return...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sand Lizards educate Hillbillies on Senior NightDARDANELLE — The Sand Lizards moved one step closer to a third-straight outright 4A-4 Conference title after defeating the Ozark Hillbillies 17-13 on Friday at Keenan Field. This class of Sand Lizards (7-2, 5-1 4A-4 Conference), which many assumed would suffer having graduated a talented group of seniors last season, has proved themselves scrappier than many expected. Senior Dakota Rowland summed it up when he addressed the team after Friday's...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sand Lizards educate Hillbillies on Senior NightDARDANELLE -- The Sand Lizards moved one step closer to a third-straight outright 4A-4 Conference title after defeating the Ozark Hillbillies 17-13 on Friday at Keenan Field. This class of Sand Lizards (7-2, 5-1 4A-4 Conference), which many assumed would suffer having graduated a talented group of seniors last season, has proved themselves scrappier than many expected. Senior Dakota Rowland summed it up when he addressed the team after Friday'...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cyclones dominate El Dorado 35-7EL DORADO — The Russellville Cyclones dominated the line of scrimmage and the El Dorado Wildcats by scoring 35 unanswered first-half points and went on to win 35-7 on Friday at Memorial Stadium. Russellville (8-1, 5-1 6A-West Conference) also earned a first-round bye in the state playoffs in two weeks, after a road trip to Siloam Springs to wrap up the regular season next week. Senior Cale Fulsom threw four touchdown passes for the first time ...

RHS prepares for road testRussellville Cyclones head coach Billy Dawson believes tonight's game against the El Dorado Wildcats could be interesting. El Dorado (4-4, 2-3 6A-West) is a tradition-rich program that's won nine state championships in school history and four under head coach Scott Reed. "Coach Reed has done an outstanding job over there," Dawson said. "They're very good, and very physical. Their defensive line is as good overall as we've seen all year." Dawso...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

RHS volleyball advances to 6A semifinalsLAKE HAMILTON -- The Russellville Lady Cyclones defeated the Sheridan Yellow Jackets 3-0 on Wednesday in the second round of the Class 6A State Tournament. Russellville, who entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, enjoyed a first-round bye to reach Wednesday's match-up. Individual set scores were 25-23, 25-22, 25-12. "I was so proud of how the girls kept working together as a team," said coach Christina Wilbers. "Everyone who played last nig...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

AVSA to deploy app for greater communication, fan experiencePaul Kimbrough, director for for Arkansas Valley Soccer Association (AVSA), and Dr. Carmella Knoernschild, the River Valley's board-certified orthodontist and owner of www.NoYuckBraces.com, recently announced a partnership in Russellville. "Dr. K", a Premier Invisalign provider in Russellville, and the AVSA announced a multi-year premier field sponsorship and "official technology partner" for the AVSA Soccer Club. The partnership includes Dr. ...

Hogs roundupBY NATE ALLEN nallensports@att.net, writer FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks began bye week practices Tuesday with more leaks than the Democratic party's hacked computers. Other than senior place-kicker Adam McFain of Greenwood kicking a career long 54-yard field goal, there was nothing Arkansas that didn't need patching from the Razorbacks' totally unexpected 56-3 SEC West loss to the Auburn Tigers last Saturday in Auburn, Ala. The defe...

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BY NATE ALLEN
nallensports@att.net, writerThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Tech seniors look for homecoming winSeventeen Arkansas Tech University seniors will play their final home game when the Wonder Boys host Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Great American Conference football at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field in Russellville on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff for Arkansas Tech's 2016 Homecoming contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. Party at the Plaza, the pre-game tailgating celebration outside the stadium, will begin at 11 a.m. Game tickets ($10 adul...

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BY SAM STRASNER
ATU Director of Media RelationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Tech wraps up noncon actionBehind a combined .395 hitting percentage over two matches, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns added two non-conference wins on Tuesday. Tech defeated Central Baptist and Lyon College, both in three sets. Arkansas Tech vs. Central Baptist How It Happened Central Baptist (3-17) took the first point of the match but did not hold a lead for the rest of the contest. Tech's best performance of the match came in the second set, when a kill by Sarah Rosin...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Wildcats learn from England defeatHECTOR -- Wildcats head coach Kyle Russell said he believes there are lessons to be learned from his team's 35-6 loss to the England Lions last Friday at Gaylon Gibbs Stadium. The loss broke a 29-game conference win streak and likely sundered the Wildcats chance for its fourth-straight conference title, but it provided the team a unique opportunity -- one they typically don't face until the playoffs. "I think a lot of positives come out of it,...

Did you know?THE COURIER / Kevin Hobby Russellville seeks its eighth win in a single season for the first time since 2009 against the El Dorado Wildcats on Friday. The Cyclones are 3-1-1 against El Dorado. Russellville won the last meeting 38-37 in double overtime in the first round of the AAAAA State Tournament in 2002. The Cyclones previous three meetings with the Wildcats have been in the first round of the playoffs. Pictured: Jason Collins pulls down a...

Five selected for 2016 Arkansas Tech Homecoming courtFive candidates for the title of Arkansas Tech University Homecoming queen 2016 have been selected to the Homecoming court. The members of the 2016 Arkansas Tech Homecoming court are junior Maggie Hand of Monticello, senior Emily Shain of Paragould, junior Savannah Snowden of Greenbrier, senior Vandella Suico of The Woodlands, Texas, and senior Lindsey Triplett of Damascus. Arkansas Tech will announce its 2016 Homecoming queen during Saturday'...

RHS competes in Lake Hamilton InvitationalLAKE HAMILTON -- The Russellville cross country team recently competed in the Lake Hamilton Invite. The Lady Cyclones finished third with a team score of 100, with Charissa Helms leading the way in 20:20.94. "Our varsity girls finished third out of 60 teams in a tremendous field," Russellville head coach John Frazier said. "They were behind 7A Bentonville and Lake Hamilton by two points. They just continue to get better." Astrid Christensen an...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Cyclones begin state tournament tonightThe Russellville Lady Cyclones will begin their journey toward the Class 6A state championship at 8 p.m. today in Lake Hamilton. The Lady Cyclones will play the winner between Mountain Home and Sheridan, which was played at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. "We've had multiple extra practices to prepare for this game," coach Christy Wilbers said. "The girls are excited about this tournament so no matter who we play, we will be ready." Russellville was 6A-Wes...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sand Lizards must beat Ozark FridayDARDANELLE -- There's no doubt the 4A-4 Conference is wild. With the Dardanelle Sand Lizards and Ozark Hillbillies both carrying 4-1 conference records, and the Dover Pirates, Booneville Bearcats and Waldron Bulldogs one game behind, it will take every game of the regular season to figure out conference champions, conference runners-up and Class 4A State Tournament seeding. "It will be decided Week 10," Vega said. "The Dover-Ozark game will be...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley